During the early medieval period, books
and manuscripts were in the hands of the literate clergy and the upper middle
class gentry. As the only ones that could afford such books, they often
controlled the contents and the design of them. Monastic scriptoriums
formed to created richly decorated religious tomes that prevailed until the
printing press was invented. When printing began in 1450, it revolutionized
the spread of education to the common people. This little shoppe contains
some wonderful "books" and information. Feel free to peruse them.